SMIXIN Automatic handwashing station
Country of development/application:
Switzerland
3. Scope of innovation
☒ Office work
☐ Production / Service supply process
Sector-specific
☐ Yes / please, specify sector(s):
☒ No (relevant for all sectors)
Description of the needs
Washing our hands with soap and water is the most effective way to maintain hand hygiene. When done properly, it removes dirt and stops the spread of bacteria and infections. Together with removing obvious dirt from our hands, soap is highly effective at inactivating and removing virus particles. The molecules of soap interfere with the fatty coating that surrounds a virus and holds it together. Without this membrane, the virus falls apart and can no longer invade healthy cells. When we then scrub and rinse, we dislodge all those broken-down particles, and they are washed away. However, one of the most common but wasteful habits during washing hands is leaving the faucet running while scrubbing hands with soap. Saving water when washing hands is an important commitment to conserving water resources and protecting the environment.
According to the standard hand-washing guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), the duration of the entire hand washing procedure is 40-60 seconds. Water flows from the average sink faucet at 8.3 liters per minute which means that if scrubbing takes at least 20 seconds, at least 2 ¾ liters of water are wasted at each hand wash. As water scarcity problems will probably increase over the next decade, it is important to explore ways to reduce water consumption in everyday individual behaviors.
Smixin – a Swiss company committed to improving health, hygiene, and sustainability introduced an innovative solution set to revolutionize the way we wash our hands in public places. Mobile hand washing systems are completely touchless units that provide a mix of water and soap when hands are placed below a sensor. A paper towel is then dispensed, with the whole process taking less than 15 seconds.
Description of the solution
The unique hand washing solution delivers the highest standards of sanitation with limited use of resources. By applying IoT (Internet of Things) technology, Smixin grants its clients instant data access and enables behavior change.
The Smixin system is an innovative, mobile hand washing system that makes hand hygiene in public places simple. Washing hands with Smixin uses 90% less water and 60% less soap compared to a normal hand washing cycle. Water, soap, and paper are dispensed optimally and the system is connected to an external monitoring platform. Hygiene levels after washing hands with Smixin (within 12-15 seconds) are comparable with washing hands for a full recommended WHO guideline with a normal faucet and soap dispenser – as confirmed by a leading testing institute.
The Smixin Combi hanswashing station is an unique touchless 3-in-1 hand washing system designed to be used inside or outside the washroom. Water, soap, paper are dispensed automatically in an optimal way. With or without display, the system can be connected to Smixin Smartboard allowing a distance monitoring of the unit.
Overview:
• Double detection: body detection and hand detection.
• Plumbed-in only to fresh water line or mobile version (operating with water jerrycans).
• With or without display.
• With automatic paper dispenser or with manual paper dispense.
• Control of water consumption, number of cycles statistics and remote control of system’s parameters.
• Ideal for public areas, schools & universities, offices, industrial areas.
Specifications:
• Dimensions: 72.5cm Height, 38.5cm Width, 36.5cm Depth.
• Interior width of sink: 35 cm.
• Net weight: 13 kg.
• Cycle Activation: Double detection body sensor & hand sensor/ Automatic via infrared sensor.
• Material: Stainless Steel 316L Painted RAL 7047 / Plastic parts: PC-ABS, white ceramic look.
• Water consumption of flowrate 0.7L per minute (+/-10%).
• Acceptable inlet pressure range: 1.5 – 10 bar.
• Operating pressure (inside the system): 0.6 – 0.8 bar.
• Connection: G1/2 Female.
• Voltage: Input 100-240 V AC, Output voltage 12 VDC.
• Maximum power consumption: 15 W.
• Standby power consumption: 1.5 W.
• Average operating power: 5.5 W.
• Recommended operating temperature range: 5 – 40°C.
• Certificates of power supply: CE, cUL/UL, SAA, C-Tick.
Available versions:
• Combi Premium: with smart display for access to remote control and statistics.
• Combi Basic: without display to ensure strong robustness.
• Combi Light: optimized for manual paper distribution.
Available accessories:
• Wall mounting kit: allows for fixing of the unit to the wall and adding a waste bin for collecting paper waste from the hand wash.
• Fresh water tank: developed for cases when there is no access to freshwater outlet; the solution integrates a high performance water pump and housing (including water pipes & water tanks).
7. Description of the effect
Environmental benefits:
• Saves more than 90% water and soap compared to a traditional hand wash cycle.
• Only 0.12 liter of water needed per handwashing cycle – 90% water savings.
• Only 0.3 ml of soap needed per handwashing cycle.
Financial benefits:
• Less than 2 year payback time based on cycles per day/year.
• At least 50% time reduction in efficient handwashing.
Behavioural benefits:
• Improves handwashing habits (of students, guests, employees, etc.) by 40% when available outside the washroom.
• 75% of users rate the Combi as way better than traditional hand washing.
Against each automatic handwashing station sold, Smixin provides 10,000 litres of drinking water via MadeBlue organization, guaranteeing 10 children access to fresh drinking water at school for a whole year. MadeBlue aims to improve water supply in regions where clean water is insufficient.
Company/companies that developed/implemented/offer the innovation
Located since 2010 in Biel, Switzerland’s watchmaking metropolis at the eastern end of the lake of the same name and the foot of the Jura in the beautiful Seeland, Smixin is committed to improve health, hygiene and sustainability. Company’s unique hand washing solutions deliver the highest standards of sanitation with limited use of resources. By applying IoT technology to its systems, Smixin grants its clients instant data access and enables behavior change.
Smixin AG
Address: Rue Centrale 115, 2503 Bienne, Switzerland
Phone : +41 (0)32 366 64 00
E-mails: info@smixin.com; sales@smixin.com – for sales requests
Website: https://smixin.com/
9. Additional information
Video: explanation of Smixin Combi